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Former boyfriend of Surrey homicide victim turns himself in on earlier assault warrant

Maple Batalia, an aspiring model and actress.

Photograph by: Global TV
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METRO VANCOUVER - The father of 19-year-old murder victim Maple Batalia says he is relieved that a former boyfriend believed to have been harassing her is now facing charges.

But Harry Batalia said his family will feel much better when someone is charged in the slaying of his daughter, a Simon Fraser University student who was gunned down near the Surrey campus on Sept. 28.

“I will be relieved when I find the person who committed this ghastly murder,” Batalia said Monday. “I see this [development] as a good lead.”

Maple Batalia’s former boyfriend Gurjinder (Gary) Dhaliwal, 19, turned himself in to Surrey RCMP Monday morning after learning a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Cpl. Drew Grainger said assault charges against Dhaliwal were approved by the Crown on Sept. 29 in connection with a Sept. 24 incident at a Tim Hortons doughnut shop in Surrey. The incident allegedly took place at 4:45 a.m. on King George Highway and 96th Avenue.

Grainger said the two complainants were both 19 — a male and a female — though he would not provide their names.

But Harry Batalia earlier told The Vancouver Sun and other media outlets that Maple had been assaulted by Dhaliwal a few days before her murder after a chance encounter at a Tim Hortons.

Dhaliwal made a brief court appearance Monday and was released on bail.

Maple was gunned down at about 1:10 a.m. on Sept. 28 as she walked to her car in the Central City parkade after an evening of studying.

The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is in charge of the case. Earlier, Cpl. Annie Linteau said they could not comment on “rumours” that were circulating, including that Maple had been having problems with Dhaliwal.

Dhaliwal has no criminal record but several alleged driving infractions, including two that are still before the courts.

Batalia said he is learning more from his daughters’ friends about what had been going on in the weeks before Maple was shot to death, including information that she was being followed and chased at times. But he doesn’t want to say anything publicly that might interfere with the ongoing murder investigation.

“Rumours don’t help the case,” Batalia said.

Hundreds attended a candlelight vigil Friday in Holland Park for Maple, an actor, model and popular student who aspired to be a doctor.

Batalia said he wanted to thank all those who have sent their best wishes and prayers for the family. “We are all so devastated and in every way,” he said. “We are destroyed by this ghastly, horrific murder.”